Moore shows best stuff as Giants top Phillies

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San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) slides at home to score against Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro (38) in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (56) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Denard Span (2) scores against the Philadelphia Phillies on a double by Jarrett Parker in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy congratulates Denard Span (2) and Hunter Pence (8) after scoring against the Philadelphia Phillies on a double by Jarrett Parker in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) heads to first base after hitting a single against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants Pablo Sandoval (48) reacts after scoring against the Philadelphia Phillies on a home run by Brandon Crawford (35) in the third inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) looks to the sky after scoring on a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Jarrett Parker (6) congratulates Hunter Pence (8) on a homer against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: Matt Moore #45 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the top of the second inning at AT&T Park on August 18, 2017 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) slides safely at second against Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez (16) after hitting a double in the fifth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants second baseman Kelby Tomlinson (37) tosses the ball to second base to force out Philadelphia Phillies' Rhys Hoskins (17) on a double play in the seventh inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) goes to the plate against the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) slides at home to score against Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro (38) in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris (50) struggles on the mound against the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

Although the Giants entered Friday’s action 22 games out of a National League playoff spot, manager Bruce Bochy insists the team isn’t giving up on the season, playing for pride, their devoted fans and positive momentum heading into the 2018 season.

Moore (4-12) started setting the stage for a bounce back campaign at AT&T Park Friday night, putting together arguably his best start of the season, surrendering just two hits in 7 1/3 innings of work in a 10-2 Giants win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

“That’s our goal, to finish strong,” Bochy said. “Whether it’s an individual player, like Matt (Moore), or us as a club, we just want to play better ball. We owe it to each other, we owe it to the fans, ownership, everybody.”

The win was Moore’s first since June 20 and just his second in his last 17 starts. The start offered a reminder of why the Giants acquired Moore at the trade deadline last season, providing a sliver of optimism that he could regain his 2013 form when he won 17 games with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Although he entered the game with the National League’s highest ERA, Moore built off his quality start against the Washington Nationals Sunday, surrendering two earned runs while allowing just six Phillies to reach base. None of his runners advanced past second while he was on the mound.

The lefty’s only blemishes came in the eighth after he gave up a single and a walk before Cory Gearrin relieved him, allowing two runs to score on back-to-back singles. Moore walked off the mound to a healthy ovation from the crowd at China Basin, his first home win since May 13.

“I definitely noticed it,” Moore said. “It’s one of the coolest parts about playing here is just how loud it can get and the appreciation coming off the hill.”

Moore took advantage of the pitcher-friendly confines of AT&T Park, recording 13 fly ball outs while snapping his streak of allowing home runs in seven-consecutive outings.

“He’s not overthrowing at all. It looks like he’s playing catch with Buster (Posey),” Bochy said. “I think it’s helped his command on all of his pitches. He’s throwing quality strikes.”

The 28-year-old pitcher acknowledged that he’s made a conscientious effort in recent starts to not overthrow the ball, which is helping him locate his off-speed pitches, particularly his changeup.

Moore said he’s been receiving pointers from Madison Bumgarner and Ty Blach.

“I found myself throwing each pitch too hard,” Moore said. “It’s just too much to be gripping that much through (the game). I do feel like after the (All-Star) break that was something I was working on, just making sure I’m not white knuckling too much.

“The changeup by far has been the most improved pitch in the last month or so. Overthrowing, you just wind up getting yourself in a spot where you can’t get the extension that you want.”

The Giants provided Moore with plenty of support early, tagging Phillies starter Zach Eflin (1-5) for six earned runs in the game’s first three innings.

Jarrett Parker drove in the Giants first two runs, following up Thursday night’s two double performance with another double, this time down the left field line, scoring Denard Span, who singled, and Hunter Pence, who doubled.

After Pablo Sandoval picked up his second RBI since rejoining the Giants by singling in Parker, Pence picked up an RBI of his own in the second, launching his 11th home run into the left-center field bleachers. The veteran right fielder went 2 for 4 in the contest, improving his batting average to .351 in the month of August.

Brandon Crawford gave Moore two more runs of support in the third, smacking his 10th home run of the season with Sandoval aboard on a walk. Crawford and Sandoval both went 2 for 3 while Span put together a 3 for 5 performance at the plate.

“That’s always nice,” Bochy said, referring to the run support that the Giants bats provided Moore. “Your pitcher gets settled in, that takes a lot of pressure off him. Not that that should change his game plan or what he’s trying to do, but there’s no question that early runs, it’s a good thing for everybody and for the dugout.”

The Giants added four more runs in the eighth off four hits and a throwing error by the Phillies.

With the win, the Giants improved to 10-7 in the month of August, a vast improvement on the 40-67 record they produced over the first four months of the season.

“We have not stopped playing,” Bochy said during his pregame media session Friday. “We have a lot of fans here, who we’re trying to win games for and play better baseball, which has gotten a little better here. There’s no one here that’s saying the season’s over. We have quite a few games left.”

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) slides at home to score against Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro (38) in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

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San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Matt Moore (45) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin (56) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Denard Span (2) scores against the Philadelphia Phillies on a double by Jarrett Parker in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy congratulates Denard Span (2) and Hunter Pence (8) after scoring against the Philadelphia Phillies on a double by Jarrett Parker in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval (48) heads to first base after hitting a single against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants Pablo Sandoval (48) reacts after scoring against the Philadelphia Phillies on a home run by Brandon Crawford (35) in the third inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) looks to the sky after scoring on a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Jarrett Parker (6) congratulates Hunter Pence (8) on a homer against the Philadelphia Phillies in the second inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 18: Matt Moore #45 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies in the top of the second inning at AT&T Park on August 18, 2017 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) slides safely at second against Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez (16) after hitting a double in the fifth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants second baseman Kelby Tomlinson (37) tosses the ball to second base to force out Philadelphia Phillies' Rhys Hoskins (17) on a double play in the seventh inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey (28) goes to the plate against the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford (35) slides at home to score against Philadelphia Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro (38) in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Hector Neris (50) struggles on the mound against the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, in San Francisco, Calif. (Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)